Mexico 0-0 Portugal: Goncalo Ramos hits the post & misses chances

Portugal failed to find a way through the Mexico defence in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as Saturday's international friendly at the Estadio Azteca ended goalless.

Match Report

Portugal failed to find a way through the Mexico defence in the absence of Cristiano Ronaldo as Saturday's international friendly at the Estadio Azteca ended goalless.

With Ronaldo sidelined due to a muscle injury, Roberto Martinez selected Goncalo Ramos to lead the line and he came closest for Portugal, flicking against Raul Rangel's right-hand post following a lovely pass from Bruno Fernandes in the 26th minute.

Ramos also totally miscued from another good Fernandes centre as the teams were limited to one shot on target apiece in the first half. 

The interval brought seven Portugal changes, and the Selecao struggled for intensity in the second period, too.

Their best openings saw Fernandes shoot off-target from distance and Joao Cancelo nod Diogo Dalot's searching cross wide, while Pedro Neto worked Rangel from a tight angle.

Perhaps the best chance of the half went Mexico's way, but Armando Gonzalez sent a stooping header wide of the near post while totally unmarked, and many of those in attendance booed the teams off at full-time.

Data Debrief: Selecao misfire in Mexico City

Even without Ronaldo, Portugal have plenty of firepower available to them, so Martinez will be bitterly disappointed that they were held to just two shots on target.

From 10 total attempts, the Selecao tallied 1.39 expected goals (xG), 0.57 of which was contributed by Ramos, who was wayward with both of his efforts from good positions.

Mexico had seven shots, only hit the target once and put up an even worse xG figure, of 0.52. 

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

14' Felix attempts chip, over

24' Both teams take drinks due to heat

27' Unlucky! Goncalo Ramos shot hits the woodwork

33' Bruno cross, Ramos misses chance

53' Tempers flare as Neto and Gálindo clash

56' Alvarado attempts curler, goes wide

60' Vega heads over from close range

71' Guedes error concedes throw-in

72' Second-half drinks break, both teams hydrate

80' Armando González header at back post just wide

Line-ups

Mexico XI: Jimenez, Roberto Alvarado, J. Gallardo, Álvaro Fidalgo, César Montes, Johan Vásquez, Érik Lira, Israel Reyes, Brian Gutiérrez, Raúl Rangel, Obed Vargas

Subs: G. Ochoa, Guillermo Martínez, Orbelín Pineda, Germán Berterame, Alexis Vega, Julián Quiñones, Jorge Sánchez, Carlos Acevedo, Carlos Rodríguez, Érick Sánchez, Jesús Angulo, Richard Ledezma, Armando González, Everardo López, Denzell García

Portugal XI: Rui Silva, Neves, Bruno Fernandes, Felix, Matheus Nunes, Francisco Conceição, Gonçalo Ramos, Samú Costa, Nuno Mendes, António Silva, Renato Veiga

Subs: Cancelo, Paulinho, Jose Sa, Guedes, Ricardo Horta, Dalot, Francisco Trincão, Ricardo Velho, Pedro Neto, Pedro Gonçalves, Vitinha, Tomás Araújo, Gonçalo Inácio, João Neves, Mateus Fernandes